WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today EMILY’s List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, announced that the 2019 Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star Award will be awarded to California Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo. Former U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords will present Wendy with the award at the We Are EMILY Gala in Washington, D.C. on April 4th. Stephanie Schriock, president of EMILY’s List, released the following statement:

“Wendy Carrillo is a hardworking, inspiring public servant who is deeply passionate about improving opportunities for her community. Her impactful leadership has helped advance policies that create jobs, make higher education more accessible, and protect civil rights for all Californians. Wendy’s commitment to service and progress has been so consequential in her time in office that EMILY’s List has no doubt she has a very bright future ahead of her. We are proud to honor and congratulate Wendy on winning our 2019 Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star Award.”

Originally from El Salvador, Wendy Carrillo came to the United States as an undocumented child and obtained citizenship in her early 20s. As an award-winning journalist, co-founder of a social news media startup that promoted human rights, and former Service Employees International Union employee, Wendy understands the value of high-quality education and is a staunch advocate for debt-free college, women’s rights, and health care for all. EMILY’s List endorsed Wendy in her last campaign and she has represented District 51 in California’s state Assembly since 2017.

The Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star Award honors extraordinary women serving in state or local office who demonstrate the sort of commitment to community, dedication to women and families, and determination and civility that have been the highlights of former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ career, in and out of office. Previous Rising Star Award recipients include Georgia House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams in 2014, Boston City Councilwoman Ayanna Pressley in 2015, Colorado House Speaker Crisanta Duran in 2016, Philadelphia City Councilwoman Helen Gym in 2017, and Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx in 2018.

EMILY’s List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, has raised over $600 million to elect pro-choice Democratic women candidates. With a grassroots community of over five million members, EMILY's List helps Democratic women win competitive campaigns – across the country and up and down the ballot – by recruiting and training candidates, supporting strong campaigns, researching the issues that impact women and families, and turning out women voters to the polls. Since our founding in 1985, we have helped elect 150 women to the House, 26 to the Senate, 16 governors, and nearly 1,100 women to state and local office. Nearly 40 percent of the candidates EMILY’s List has helped elect to Congress have been women of color. During the historic 2017-2018 cycle, EMILY’s List raised a record-breaking $110 million dollars and launched a record independent expenditure campaign. We helped elect 34 new women to the House, including 24 red-to-blue victories; enough seats to have delivered the U.S. House majority alone. Since the 2016 election, more than 40,000 women have reached out to EMILY's List about running for office laying the groundwork for the next decade of candidates for local, state and national offices.